THE DISRUPTION.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 112, 1 September 1876, Page 7

THE DISRUPTION.

CHAPTER XXIV.

A TALE OF TEYING TIMES. . «

Old Edina's heart beats high-, Youthful vigour lights her eye-, And her welcome fills the sky, "Welcome to Victoria ! K L, Malone. Robin Afleck allowed none o' the absurdity of Mr Bacon's message to Miss Stimperton to be lost in the deliVery. *Ye are to be ready,' said he, "to gang wi' him to the Queen's sho-v at Dalkeith on Monday at 11 o'clock, and ye're to be dressed in a long trailing- gown, and to have nothing- on your head but a bunch o' peacock's feathers.' * Saft Shusie' heard these directions "with perfect composure, and was not even startled by the peacock's feathers ; but her brother listened with surprise, not a little indignation. * What*" nonsense is this, Robin f he inquired in an angry tone. ' Ou, nae nonsense ava, Mr Stimperton ; only Miss Shusie, ye see, is gaun wi' Mr Bacon to see the Queen, and I'm just letting her ken the kind o' style he wants her to appear in.' * Trowth, Shusie, ye shall gang nae sic gate, wi' my consent at least, wi' a daft man like this Mr Bacon.' { Fegs, sir, she maun though, for she has promised already, and Mr Bacon canna gang withoot her ; he's nae mair i daft than me, after a', but only a wee i thocht droll in his way.' ' Daft or no daft, he's ne'er get a sister o* mine to carry oot his capers wi', if I can help it. And, Shusie, I think the least ye could ha'e dune was to speak to me on the subject before ye entered into sic a ploy.' Shusie made no reply to this rebuke but by a few tears, which might be either expressive of regret for having acted so foolishly, or of vexation at the prospect of being prevented from gratifying almost the only strong wish she had — the desire to witness the pageantry and splendours of the royal court. Mrs Renshaw interceded for her, or rather for herself, for she had a purpose in the matter. She had not given up her project of sending homely presents to the Queen which was before alluded to, and hoped to get Mr Bacon to take charge of them. It must be confessed that the idea was a good one, for such ! a charge was very appropriate to the man, both being somewhat uncommon. ! It was to be feared, however, that the prevention of Miss Stimperton from accompanying him would prove a serious obstacle. Mr Bacon, in that casej-^pght not go at all to the Draw-ing-R66m, or, if he did, would not be

likely to undertake the presentation of » Mrs Renshaw's oat cakes and jam. She therefore pleade strongly that Miss Skusie might be allowed to go ; but Stiffriggs was inexorable. Robin Afleck was completely taken aback by this unexpected turn of affairs. "With a disappointed expression of countenance, he called Mr Duncanson aside to request him to use his influence with Stiffrig-g-s to relax his opposition to his sister's intended display with Mr Bacon. But the student refused, point-blank, to undertake the task. ( I cannot,' said he, ' advise Mr Stimperton to permit anything of the kind. And you know, Robert '

1 Mr Afleck, if you please.' ' Well, Mr Afleck, you are aware I have always set my face against this foolery. I don't wish to see Mr Bacon make himself ridiculous, and far less can I consent to have a hand in leading any simple young woman like Miss Stimperton to take part in his absurdities." :

llf it be sac daft like as ye seem to think for folk to gang to the Queen's Drawing-Room) I dinna see but Mr q ;on and Miss Stimperton have just as gude a richt to get makin' fules o' themsel's as ony o' the gentlemen and ladies that's to be there. And mair than that, sir, if Mr Bacon be disappointed in this business, I'm dootious ye may loss yer place as his secrotary, for he'll be ill-pleased at the hale bilin' tf us.'

lAs for that > Robert— — ' 'Mr Robert, if ye please, jimes. Man, it's strange ye ne'er can mind to gi'e me the mister as well as ony ither stewdent.'

'I beg your pardon; I shall try to toind hereafter. " But as for the motive you speak of, I would be ashamed to allow it to bias me in the least in such a matter-, whatever my circumstances ttJ {&t be. At any rate, Ido not intend to continue any longer in Mr Bacon's employment, for luckily I shall &o longer need.' Robin staved interrogatively, but before he had time to put ai jy question Mr Duncanson added, { I w "l tell you the reason of this when we are more at leisure, but in the meantime Jou may rest assured that what I told you is true-.'

'Weel,' said the honest-hearted rustic, I'm glad to hear it, Mr Jimes ; but if J e be dune wi' Mr Bacon, I'm no just jtone wi' him yet j and rather than see ton disappointed, I'll try and get Jeian braun. persuaded to be his companion *t the Queen's Drawing- Room — and te P J ean can ack the grand lady fifty tays better than Saft Shusi'e Simperlo«? I reckon yell no think there's % harm in letting her gang V i * No, if Jean herself or 1 her mistress jfcto no objections • but l daresay, Mr ■Robert, your sweetheart 1 has too much Jjuse to' play the. fool in public with :

' Sense ! ay, she has plenty o' sense ; \ rather muckle for me maybe ; but, j man ! she's desperate fond o' fun-, and I \ think she wad risk being laucht at for the sake o' gettin' a lauch hersel 7 . Then the mistress, she'll be glad to let her, for the sake o' gettin her presents to the Queen sent by a safe haund.' , 'But would Mr Bacon be pleased with the exchange V ' Pleased ! he would be deligtit j for d'ye ken he has ta'en the rue already about Shusie. He's deep in luve wi' her yet (the auld sumph that he is) ; but he has ta'en a frict about marrying that makes him half unwilling to risk himsel' again within sicht o' her ,• and he says he'll never ventur' to look at her excep' through green specks/ Here Robin related hurriedly the substance of Mr Bacon's Malthusian dreams. While this was passing, Mrs Renshaw had contrived to induce Stiffrig-gs to. propose that he and Mr Duncanson should accompany her and Miss Stimperton on a walk through the town to see the illumination. This was immediately agreed to, and as the windows were already lighted up, the little party sallied out at once and mingled with the multitude with which the streets were crowded. After they had visited the most remarkable points of the scene, which was all like enchantment to the simple country people, who were almost blinded by the excess of light, and deafened by the continual explosion of i gunpowder, they were about to turn up to the North Bridge on their return to ' Nicholson-street, when they got fairly jammed in the mass of people who stood admiring the brilliant display in front of the Register Office, the Theatre, and other buildings in that vicinity. Unable either to proceed or go back, they remained for some minutes almost on the same spot, but swayed to and fro as the pressure became greater on one side or other. While they stood here, a number of burning squibs were thrown among the crowd, which increased confusion. One of them fell on the shoulder of a lady who stood at no great distance from Mr Duncanson, with her back to him, and seemed to be in company with another lady and two elderly gentleman. Immediately her shawl was in a blaze. The student, by a vigorous effort, forced his way to her, and succeeded in extinguishing the flames before she was fully aware of her danger, or he had discovered her to be his own Agnes Montgomery. The surprise of both was great 5 but they had no time for words, for a gang of pickpockets took advantage of the accident to close around them for the purpose of doing a little business. Stiffriggs, however, observed the movement, and struck in with his enormous fists just in time to knock down several of the thieves, and to save old Mr Mont- { gomery and Mr Calmsough, for these i were the companions of Agnes, from being rudely hustled and most probably robbed. Of course, Mr Duncanson and his stalwart friend could not leave the party they had so opportunely rescued, till they saw them fairly out of danger ; and accordingly Stiffriggs, with Mrs Calmsough. at one arm and Mrs Renshaw at the other, the student taking charge of Miss Montgomery and Miss Stimperton, and the two old gentlemen assisting each other as well as they could, urged their way through the living torrent to Pitt-street. Arrived there, the good people of Bufncrook could not do less than invite their protectors and escort into their lodgings. Mr Calmsough and the ladies did so ; but Mr Montgomery, just at this point, was so overcome by a fit of coughing* that he could not, or at least, did not> join in the polite request* The invitation was, however, accepted, and Mr Duncanson found himself once more in the happy presence of her from whom, but the night before, he thought himself banished for ever. Agnes was so overcome by her feelinggj and so apprehensive of her father's displeasure, that she could hardly venture to look up or speak; and there would have been a painful feeling of restraint on the company had it not been carried off by the boisterous frankness of Stiffriggs and Mrs Renshaw, neither of whom knew of the circumstance which had disturbed the same scene the previous evening, or were of a temper to be much put about though they had. While this unsophisticated couple were keeping 1 up a hilarious feeling by giving blunt and free expression to all that came uppermost in their minds, the compaoy received an accession in the persons . of Sir. Joan Baldwin and Mr Simon M'Quirkie. Sir John had heard of Mr Montgomery's sudden illness, arid being a brother Moderate, as well as a neighbor, had called to see him. Mr M'Quirkie, jsvho was now almost as constantly with him as his shadow, and studied to comply with every wish the great man chose to express, accompanied him as a iriatter of course, Simon, however^ remembering keenly the ludicrous upshot of his wooing at Burncrook, felt some reluctance to appear again before Miss Montgomery^ but he mustered courage enough to. do that, th'oug ; h hot to face Mrs RenshaW, whom ; he little thought of meeting on this occasion. Accordingly he at once became quite cfcestfalien when He found -vvhat company he was ushered, into. ; , His natural assurance (a precious gift* of which he had a pretty liberal Stock), for the time forsook him, and after making an awkward obeisance all round, he shrunk cowed and abashed into a cor-

ner. When the conversation began, as it soon did-, to turn on his favorite subject — the Church question — he had not a word to say. There was, however, no lack of arg-umfent Sir John Baldwin rallied his burly tenant on his Nonintrusionism, and Stiffriggs retorted unsparingly on the Laird's Erastian principles. Mr Duncanson kept himself, on this occasion, almost as reserved as his chum M'Quirkie, but for a different reason. He was apprehensive of irritating old Mr Montgomery > and for the sake of Ag-nes he refrained from join-ing-in the debate. He made several attempts to change the subject, but all in vain. The two laymen hud tackled to it with irrepressible ardour, and turned every other topic, no matter how foreign or untoward, into the same channel. Even the Queen's visit was treated of as a Church question. Both admitted its bearings on the controversy, and agreed that it was intended to allay the prevailing' ferment in matters ecclesiastical ; but they differed widely as to its probable effect. Sir John declared his conviction that her Majesty's presence in the country would have a soothing influence on the public mind, and lead people to forget their ecclesiastical bickerings.

" Trowth, Laird,' said Stiffriggs, *' I see nae muckle appearance o' that. There's yoursel' and me — ha'e we forgotten, our differences the mair o' this gallantin' o' the Queen amang 1 us, this pluffin' of poother, this bleezin' o 1 gas, this ringin' o' bells, and the firm' o' cannon ? I trow no, Sir John ; for, beggin' your pardon, ye've just as far wrang aboot the Kirk question as e'er I saw ye, and as little like to gie up your Eraustianism as I'm to forget that it's a heart-deadenin', soul-destroyin' principle.' 1 Pooh ! Ringan,' replied tbe Baronet, ' this is all fudge and balderdash. It would be far wiser of you to look after the tile-draining and guano than to trouble yourself about things altogether out of your line.' ' Hooly, Laird, hooly. Though I'm but a puir tenant o' yours, I ha'e something to mind far abune the clods o' the valley. And, wi' your leave, let me say, as lang* as I bring" my rent oot o' the Stiffriggs mailin, I haud mysel' accoontable to nae man for what I turn my th'ochts to. And it'll neither be for the tile-drainin' nor guano that I'll gi'e up the freedom o' the Kirk o' Scotland, or cease to contend against pawtronage and Eraustianism in a' shapes and forms.'

' True, true, Ringan — perfectly true ; but you ought to use your freedom with discretion. You should take time to consider if patronage be really such a bad thing as you call it, and if you are not kicking against a very just and salutary system. 7

' Time to consider ! The only thing worth considerin' is hoo to get soonest quat o't. Hav'na I had it's pernicious effecks every day o' my life stinkin' under my vera nose ? and hoo can the system be oriything to me but an abomination 1 Consider, truly ! Troth I ha'e nae need to consider muckle aboofc paw-tronag-e.'

f I understand what you mean, Ringan, but you ought not to condem the system for one unfortunate appointment. Our worthy friend Mr Calmsough here was put in by patronage, as well as Dr Snapperdudgeon.'

' Haud ye there, Sir John, and alloo me to put ye in mind that the parish petitioned for Mr Calmsouo-h, so his appointment canna properly be said to ha'e been an act o' pawtronage ; but Dr Snapperdudgeon's settlement was a forced, ane and just a fair sample o' the system.' ' I must Veg, my friends,' interposed Mr Calmsough, ' that you will refrain from personal allusions, for though I am flattered by your good opinion, I do not wish to be complimented at the expense of my neighbor. Surely the merits of patronage may be discussed without special reference to individuals. For my own part, I approve of the system, because I think its general tendency is in favor of peace and good order, but I will not let my judgment be biassed by any particular instahees > either good or bad ; there must be exceptions in every system.' * Spoken like yourself, Mr Calmsough,' said Sir John. *If our antipatronage and Non-intrusion neighbors would follow your excellent example, there would at this moment be no danger of the venerable Church of Scotland.'

' f Under your favor, Laird,' said Stiffriggs, ' the venerable Kirk o' Scotland is in nae danger. The Establishment is in, danger, to be sure— the height o' danger— but the Establishment is no the Kirk, gude be thankit !'

* Come now, Mr Stimperton,' exclaimed the Laird, * you are spinning your distinctions too fine. If the Establishment is not the Church of Scotland, 1 pray what is, or can be, ihe Church of Scotland .s— tell me that,V ;

'* I grant ye, Laird,' replied Rinnan ■, ' that the Kirk o' Scotland is established j but the Establishment is no the Kirk, lie Kirk 6' Scotland was the Kirk o' .Scotland— the national Kirk-^-beford it, was' established ; it'll be the national it^rk lang after it has leased to be establishedi Tak* mv word ibr thatj Sir JoW

,' I'll .take too man's Word for anything of the sortj V said Sir John j ' I can conceive of no national Church hut an established dne ; aud depend on it, my good friend, there will be an end td the

nationality of the Church^ an end to its efficiency, its unifcyj and all that it most valued for by the Christian people of Scotland, the day when its connection with the State is cut . asunder, if that black day should ever Come.' * I wish it were the morn/ rejoined the sturdy farmer ; ' for I'm sure the goodly tree that John Knox planted in the land will never flourish till ance it be free o' the poisonous creepers that have twined themsePs round it's stately trunk, and crushed its sappiest branches.'

* You are poetical, Ilingan,' said the Laird, in rather a jeering tone. 1 Weel,' answered Ringan, 'if I be pottical it's because I'm speaking the truth. There's naething sac pottical as the truth, ye ken. The Psalms of Davit are abune a' ither pottery, just because they're the even-down truth, every word o' them.' ' So then, Mr Stimperton, your object is noc to reform the Establishment, but to break it up altogether V 1 No, I never said that yet, Laird ; but it's because I dinna see ony chance o' reform in't worth the speaking o', that I wish the gude auld Kirk o' Scotland tp be dune wi' the endooments, and a' the trammels they impose on her.'

< Well, I'll tell you what will be the consequence if the Church ever be so infatuated as to fling 1 up her endowments, and sbake off her State connection. She will become a beast of prey in the land — a public scourge — a vampire — an unsatiable mercenary — a fomentor of animosities — a sower of dissension in communities and households — a den of superstition and hypocrisy —a community of dupes and knaves. The spirit of charity will depart from among' us, and all the bitterness of theological strife take the place of heartfelt religion. All this I venture to predict, though I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet.' *Time aboot is fair play, Sir John ; and I'll take my turn o' predicting- noo, if ye like. Here, then is my set o't: — If the Kirk o' Scotland remain under the Eraustian bonds laid on her by the Court o' Session — if she submit to be controlled in her am affairs by the ceevil Government — if she surrender the veto, and bow her neck to the yoke o' pawtronage — if she let hireling's continue to occupy her pulpits for a bit o' bread— dyvors that wad disgrace the sodger trade, let abe the sanctuary — if she continues to berry puir folks for her support, and let the gentry keep unrighteous possession o' the tiends (tak 1 ye that, Laird !) — then,, I say, she will become a bye-word and a reproach ; her candlestick will be removed '

1 Her fiddlestick !'

' She will sit in darkness and desolation — her be3t people will forsake her, and she will be like a dead tree cumbering' the land. But if she has the virtue to come out of her bondage and leave the flesh pots o' Egypt, her latter days will be more glorious than the first. There's my prophecy, Sir John ; and them that live ither ten years will see whether you or me has come nearest the truth.'

During 1 this rhapsody, Old Gideon Montgomery sat grinding his teeth, and hardly able to control his rage ; but Mr Calmsough threw oil on the troubled waters by remarking mildly — ' It appears to mo, friends, that it is an extreme view of the case to suppose either that the Church of Scotland will remain as she is, or renounce her Establishment privileges. Something between these extremes is, I think, much more likely to happen. The Legislature may probably yet concede a modification of patronage, and draw a more marked line between the provinces of the ecclesiastical and civil judicatures, and thus remove the grievances most complained of; or should this not happen, a partial, not a general, secession- from the Establishment may take place, and thus leave the Church in peace and harmony, though for a time weakened in strength. These are my views, friends ; and> so far am I from apprehending evil from the present crisis, I anticipate that great good will Come out of it, both to the Church and the country at large.' * Very . well, Mr Calmsough/ said Sir John, 'spoken like yourself again ; very well spoken, indeed. And as you are a .clergyman, ..your opinions are entitled *to more consideration than those of, us laymen.; but why are bur young clerics here sitting silent 1 Surely they should have something to say on such a subject.' < Ay,, ye may say that, Laird,' said Mrs Renshaw, *or what's the use o' their learning V .'., ; . .Stiffriggs too seemed very, much disappointed that Mr Duncanson did not back him in the. argument ; and. though he did not say much, the student perceived this feelings, in his looks, and Was unhappy at the idea that he, was no longer independent. He, however, excused himself on the score that it would haMly be using-- . the ladies liandsorrieiy.,to enter .into Controversy in' '• their presence^ Mr M'Quirkie sheltered himself under th.c sarfte : plea,. for once, in his' life out^fjbon'ntenah.cej; and fain would have been anywhere else than Where he was. '•.;■.; •

When the company bi-blte upj. both Stiffriggs and MrsV.R^nsh^ i .upfdi i t ! un-' ately reneweci . their, grumbling to the, student, that he had hot taken peirt I . in the 'discussion. His' aunt complained; that he had hot seized .the , opportunity to Bho^.h.i^Jeatnirig^fpr.s^e still had a strong wish 'that i he should gain the

favor of Sir John Baldwin — and Stiffriggs lamented that he had not stood

up for his principles when they were impugned and traduced in his hearing. Though these remarks were made without any tone of unkindness, the young- man felt them as bitter reproaches, 6eeing they proceeded from friends who had laid him under obligations, and might conceive they had thereby acquired a right to influence his conduct. . His feelings were too keen, and his imagination too vivid> to allow him to consider the matter calmly to perceive that there was nothing exacted from him on the ground of favors conferred, and that the remarks he felt so poignantly might just as probably have been made had there been no obligations in the case. At all events, he gradually wrought himself up to the conviction, that to retain what he had that day received from his aunt and the worthy farmer would ill agree

With his proud,"inflependent stomach, and before he reached his lodgings he resolved to return the money. ' Why should 1/ he said to himself, { put myself in the position of a slave, even to the kindest friends, by accepting of aid from them which I may do without 1 The season is at hand when I shall have a good chance for private teaching ; I shall earn my bread by my own industry, and be indebted to nobody.' As he resolved on this magnanimous conclusion, he searched his pockets for the bundle of bank notes, but searched in vain. They had been abstracted in the crowd while he was engaged in protecting Miss Montgomery, and thus the light-fingered fraternity had got their revenge on him for depriving" some of the members of that dexterous brotherhood of a richer prize.

(To be continued.)